MHealthy now is accepting nominations for its fourth annual MHealthy Ergonomics Awards program.
The Ergo Awards recognize university departments and units for independently implementing ergonomic solutions that have decreased risk factors and reduced or prevented employee discomfort.
Ergonomics is the science of fitting the workplace to the worker, often resulting in the promotion of safety, health, productivity and job satisfaction.
“We are looking for departments and units that have added or modified equipment or redesigned work processes to reduce strain, awkward postures, repetitive motions or forceful exertions,” says Suzanne Bade, MHealthy Ergonomics Awareness program chair and senior ergonomics consultant.
To qualify for an Ergo Award, the department or unit must have implemented the ergonomic solution between July 2008 and June 2009. Entries will be judged based on the significance of the ergonomic issue and the success of the ergonomic solution.
This is the first year in which the Ergo Award program will accept nominations in March, separate from the ergonomic grant program held in October each year.
“We separated Ergo Awards from our grant program to highlight the importance of the awards,” Bade says. “We know many areas have been proactive in making effective ergonomic changes on their own and we want to properly recognize them for taking care of their employees’ health and safety.”
Award winners will receive a special plaque and a celebration sponsored by MHealthy.
Any university faculty or staff member can nominate any department or unit for an Ergo Award. Nomination forms are available at www.MHealthy.umich.edu/ergoawards and will be accepted through March 31. Winners will be announced in May 2010.
In addition to awards and grants, the MHealthy Ergonomics Awareness team offers online resources such as tutorials, contact information for ergonomic specialists, videos and printable posters to promote healthy behaviors for all university faculty and staff. For more information, go to www.MHealthy.umich.edu/ergo.
